Rowing WOD 2/15/13: 4RFT – 300m Row, 20 Double Unders – Post Time

Rowing WOD 2/15/13:RRC Get Some!

4 Rounds For Time …

300m Row (Execute 2k Race Plan)

20 Double Unders

Today’s Rowing WOD is all about moving well, feeling confident in your race plan, and executing.  If you’re testing your 2k with us tomorrow or at CRASH-B’s on Sunday you’ll want to row each piece like it’s part of your race plan.  Focus on breathing, consistent pressure, and executing your splits.  For the double under’s try to find a rhythm and flow.

Ideally you want to walk away from this WOD knowing you’re ready to crush your race plan this weekend.  Get after it and have some fun!

Post time to comments!

Rowing WOD 2/12/13: 8x250m w/ 45sec Rest – Post Splits

Rowing WOD 2/12/13:

The Ladies getting after it at the Renegade Rowing League!

The Ladies getting after it at the Renegade Rowing League!

8 x 250m w/ 45 seconds Rest

The Open is a month away and it is time to start thinking about your game plan for certain WODs.  Those with experience know the benefit of pacing, gaming, and executing a plan to produce a personal best performance.  In the end a game plan facilitates mental toughness and focus to deal with pain when things get tough.

This Sunday, February 17th, we will be testing our 2k at the World Indoor Rowing Championships otherwise known as CRASH-B’s.  If you’re in the Boston Area come cheer on all the rowers at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.  If you’re an athlete from out-of-town and would like to come checkout CrossFit Boston and Renegade Rowing, please swing by for a little mobility session and practice some starts with us on Saturday morning at 8am.  Our gym is located at 114 Western Ave in Allston, MA directly across from Harvard Business School.  Hope to see you this weekend!

Today’s focus is executing a 2k race plan at high intensity.  Set the monitor for intervals distance with 250m of Work and 45 seconds of Rest.  Row every piece just as you would during your 2k this weekend.  Get off to a good start and settle on the first one.  Stay consistent from pieces 2 − 4.  Fight for that split on pieces 5-7.  Bring it home in the last 250m.

This should not be an all out 250m Max Effort, but rather a calculated effort at a split close to what you think your current 2k split would be.  The goal should be to pull the lowest split possible, consistently through all 10 intervals.  For example: alternating between splits of 1:50 and 2:00 is inefficient.  Instead consistently pull 1:55 every interval.

Use the mental cues you practiced in yesterday’s Rowing WOD to be positive and attack!  You want to be in control of your 2k, embrace the pain, and enjoy the glory.  It all starts here.  Final preparation.  Do it!

Post your Splits and Thoughts to comments.

Rowing WOD 2/11/13: 3 x 7min Steady – Race Focus – Post 2k Goal and Focus

Rowing WOD 2/11/13:

3 x 7min Steady State w/ 2min Rest

Renegade Rowers at 2012 CRASH-B's

Renegade Rowers at 2012 CRASH-B’s

  • Race Focus and Visualization
  • 1st piece – @2k+10
  • 2nd piece – @2k+7
  • 3rd piece – @2k+5

It’s the final countdown!  Last week of preparation for CRASH-Bs!  Today is a chance to practice your mental game.  Each piece should be rowed at a comfortable pace where you could hold a conversation of short sentences with someone.  I’ve suggested a pace scheme that should allow for that while giving you an opportunity to review your 2k race plan.  Each minute focus on the thoughts you’ll be using during the race.  One minute might be breathing.  Another minute might be split and stroke rating.  Another minute might be the rhythm of legs down, quick hands.  If your mind starts to wander bring your attention back to that one mental cue, technique fix, and/or feeling.

On race day your body will be ready.  You’ll be strong enough physically to reach your goals.  The thing that will allow you to execute and crush it is your mental game.  If you believe in your race plan, think positive, and commit to being mentally tough you can do anything.  Before starting today’s workout be sure to write down the mental cues, thoughts, and feelings you plan to use on race day.  Then execute them at the approximate time in the piece you expect to need them in the race.

Post you 2k Goal for this weekend and your main focus to comments!

Rowing WOD 2/9/13: 10×1:00 On, :45 Off – Post Splits and Distances

Rowing WOD 2/9/13:

10 x 1:00 On, :45 Off

CRASH-B's here we come! Attention! Row!

CRASH-B’s here we come! Attention! Row!

  • Goal Pace!!!

One Week until CRASH-B’s!  You’ve been training hard all winter with a goal pace in mind.  Today is the day to attack it and dial it in.  Those with experience know the benefit of pacing, gaming, and executing a plan to produce a personal best performance.  In the end a game plan facilitates mental toughness and focus to deal with pain when things get tough.

Next weekend we will be testing our 2k at CRASH-B’s, the World Indoor Rowing Championships.  If you’re in Boston swing on by and say hi.  If not, crush a 2k in your hometown gym with a friend.

Today’s focus is executing your goal 2k race plan at high intensity.  Set the monitor for intervals distance with 1 minute of Work and 45 seconds of Rest.  Row the first two pieces as if they were the start of the 2k.  Row the next three pieces as if they were part of the second 500m, Row the next three pieces as if they were part of the third 500m, and finish the last two pieces with a sprint like the end of a race.

This should not be an all out Max Effort, but rather a calculated effort at a split close to your goal split.  The goal should be to pull the lowest split possible, consistently through all 10 intervals.  If you have a good start and settle in the first two pieces and a solid sprint for the last two pieces then you’re average split for all 10 pieces should be that goal split you’d like to hit on the 2k.

Post your Splits and Distances for each piece to comments.

Rowing WOD 2/6/13: 5RFT – 15 Cals, 10 Floor Press, 5 Wall Climbs – Post Time

Rowing WOD 2/6/13:

5 Rounds for time…

Stay Connected in the Wall Climb!

Stay Connected in the Wall Climb!

15 Calorie Row
10 Floor Press As Heavy As Possible
5 Wall Climbs

Today’s Rowing WOD is all about efficiency of movement and connection through the core.  On the erg try to focus on the legs so that you save your upper body for the floor press and wall climbs.  What’s cool about this workout is the need to learn suspension using your whole body.  To efficiently row with your legs requires good connection and suspension from the catch throughout the drive.  See the video below for a good suspension drill.  On the wall climbs you must learn to stay connected through your core and not break at the midline in order to be efficient and suspend your weight on the hands as your feet climb up the wall.  For the floor press feel free to use dumbbells or a barbell, just keep the shoulder blades pinched, elbows strong, and don’t drop the weight on yourself.  Push the pace, breathe, and have some fun.

Post your time to comments and let us know how it goes!